Podcasts about inbound agency

"Don't lead with the solution. This is my number one tip for agency operators. And it's my number one tip for traditional sellers, SaaS sellers—anybody who is trying to get someone to work with them."Are your sales suffering? Are you finding it harder to get calls and close deals? Are you looking for ways to run cold outreach or follow-up after an event that actually gets responses?If so, this episode of Agency Journey is for you.Jen Allen-Knuth is the founder of DemandJen, where she helps B2B sales and marketing teams build more pipeline when it might seem harder than ever before. With over 18 years of experience in sales, Jen now works with mid-market and enterprise organizations to help train their sales teams.In this episode of Agency Journey, Jen shares her insights on effective sales strategies, particularly in challenging economic times. She emphasizes the importance of focusing on the problem rather than the solution, slowing down the sales process to build trust, and using data-driven analysis to improve your approach.Whether you're looking to refine your agency's sales process, improve your cold outreach, or build stronger relationships with prospects, this episode is packed with actionable advice and real-world examples.Episode Insights:

Are you struggling to differentiate yourself in a saturated market? Are you finding it hard to win enterprise clients and manage complex relationships with them?On the other hand, perhaps you're looking for ways to create high-quality content at scale, or demonstrate the long-term value of SEO to your stakeholders and clients?If any of those resonate, the latest episode of Agency Journey will be useful for you.Alex Birkett is the co-founder of Omniscient Digital, an organic growth agency that partners with B2B brands to build SEO programs. With a background in scaling agencies and working with enterprise clients like SAP, Adobe, and Loom, Alex shares his expertise on agency differentiation, content operations, and winning big clients.In this episode of Agency Journey, Alex dives into the strategies behind building a successful SEO agency, from differentiating your services to managing enterprise client relationships. He emphasizes the importance of developing a clear point of view and consistently delivering value to your target audience.Whether you're looking to scale your agency, improve your content operations, or land more enterprise clients, this episode is packed with actionable advice and insights from Alex's experience.Episode Insights:

Tired of working harder for the same (or less) money? Frustrated by clients who don't value your expertise? Or perhaps you're dealing with:– Razor-thin profit margins;– Clients who nickel and dime you;– Difficulty scaling without burning out;– Sales processes that feel like pulling teeth?If so, this episode of Agency Journey is for you.Raul Hernandez Ochoa is the founder of Do Good Work, a growth consultancy helping agencies scale and increase profitability. With experience building multiple agencies and leading teams to significant revenue growth, Raul brings a wealth of knowledge on pricing strategies, sales processes, and delivering high-value outcomes to clients.In this episode of Agency Journey, Raul shares his framework for increasing revenue per client without increasing workload. He tackles the mindset shifts you need to make, shows you how to ditch "selling services" for good, and reveals his value-based pricing approach that'll have clients eager to pay premium rates.Whether you're looking to boost your agency's profitability, improve your sales process, or deliver more impactful results for clients, this episode will be well worth your listen.Episode Insights:

"The value of an hour of your time as an agency owner, if you're growing, is never going backwards."In this episode of Agency Journey, Gray “The Martian” MacKenzie joins Kuba to discuss the challenges and strategies for agency owners scaling their businesses beyond 10 full-time employees (FTEs). Gray shares valuable insights on both the psychological and operational aspects of this critical growth phase.If your agency is past the 10 FTE threshold—or close to it—this is a must-listen to prepare you for the obstacles that you're about to navigate.Episode Insights:

“If a handful of 20 year olds can service millions of dollars a year in revenue—your agency can, with very little stress and very little complications. And your newsletter can, too.”Marketing Max is a serial entrepreneur and growth marketer with a seven-figure agency exit under his belt. He's the man behind the Growth Daily marketing newsletter, read by over 50,000 world-class CEOs, founders, and marketers every day.In this episode of Agency Journey, Max shares his journey from Wall Street to agency owner to media mogul. He discusses the pivotal moment when he niched down his agency services, leading to explosive growth and eventual exit. Max also dives deep into his current ventures, including his portfolio of marketing software, media, and service businesses built on the back of a massive audience.Whether you're looking to scale your agency, grow a newsletter, or build a media empire, this episode will help you get there.Episode Insights:

"Clarity is not the natural state of things. It is a discipline that we have to build into ourselves and into our organizations to create clarity for the team. The outcome is well worth it."In this episode of Agency Journey, Kuba talks with Gray about the importance of clarity in agency leadership and operations. Gray emphasizes that clarity is a form of kindness—it reduces anxiety, builds trust, and allows team members to make better decisions aligned with the company's vision.If you're struggling with unclear processes, misunderstandings in your team, or a lack of focus in your agency's direction, this episode will arm you with practical advice on how to bring more clarity to your organization.Episode Insights:

“We have to optimize the business just like a hotel optimizes their business—because you can only sell your time once, and we're in the business of selling time."Tycho Luijten is the CEO and co-founder of Dapper, a B2B marketing agency focused on helping scale-ups set up marketing engines that deliver inbound leads. With offices in Rotterdam and Lisbon, Dapper has grown to a team of 30 experts and has ambitious plans to become a key global player in the next 8 years.In this episode of Agency Journey, Tycho shares invaluable insights on niching down, creating effective video content for LinkedIn, and the importance of proper time tracking for agency growth. He emphasizes the power of focusing on a specific market segment and consistently delivering value through content marketing.Whether you're looking to refine your agency's focus, improve your content strategy, or optimize your operations, this episode is packed with actionable advice from a rapidly growing agency.Episode Insights:

"I can't grow if I'm doing the same stuff that I was doing last year. So for me to grow, I need to give my leaders space to grow in so that they're doing the stuff that I was doing last year—and then I'm doing something different. That's my yardstick for a good year."Damian Papworth is the founder and managing director of Globital, a white label digital marketing agency serving over 250 agencies across 6-8 countries. With a team of around 300 staff distributed globally, Damian has built a scalable agency model focused on consistent, high-quality fulfillment.In this episode of Agency Journey, Damian shares insights on building an agency for enterprise value, leading a distributed team, and navigating uncertain times in the industry. He emphasizes the importance of strategy over tactics and building strong relationships to weather economic challenges.Whether you're looking to scale your agency, improve your leadership skills, or prepare your business for a potential exit, this episode is packed with valuable advice from Damian's years of experience in the industry.

Ben Catley-Richardson is the "Accountability Viking" for agencies, helping owners of 3-5 year old agencies grow beyond their own capabilities. With a background in video game journalism and a passion for Norse mythology, Ben brings a unique perspective to agency growth and accountability.In this episode of Agency Journey, Ben shares insights on the importance of rest and reflection in the growth cycle, the power of creating personas, and how to prioritize effectively in an overstimulated world. He emphasizes the value of disconnecting and the science behind why rest is crucial for sustainable business growth.Whether you're looking to scale your agency, improve your work-life balance, or foster a culture of intentional growth, this episode is packed with actionable advice and fascinating perspectives on Viking culture and modern business practices.Episode Insights:

"Going from a company of know-it-alls to a company of test-it-alls—that's really powerful at the organizational level. And it makes people's work so much more meaningful."David Arnoux is the co-founder and CEO of Growth Tribe, one of Europe's leading EdTech providers focused on bridging digital skills gaps within organizations. With a background in growth marketing and consulting, David has built Growth Tribe into a powerhouse that has trained over 35,000 alumni from 1,000+ companies.In this episode of Agency Journey, David shares insights on the importance of experimentation, data-informed decision making, and continuous learning in today's fast-paced digital landscape. He emphasizes the value of upskilling teams to drive long-term impact and ROI for organizations.Whether you're looking to scale your agency, improve your team's capabilities, or foster a culture of experimentation, this episode is packed with actionable advice and fascinating perspectives.Episode Insights:

"Trust is only built through time. It's very hard to build trust through any other mode than time. And that's what's great about having a podcast."Hector Santiesteban is the founder of Amplafy Media, a podcast production company helping businesses leverage podcasting to drive revenue. In this episode of Agency Journey, Hector shares insights on using podcasts strategically to grow your business and generate leads. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on benefits over features, creating a great guest experience, and using different podcast formats to build trust and drive sales.This episode will be a great listen for agency owners looking to leverage podcasting for growth; podcast hosts seeking to monetize their shows more effectively; as well as business leaders wanting to establish thought leadership in their niche.Episode Insights:

Corey Morris is the owner and CEO of Voltage Digital, a specialized digital marketing agency focused on search marketing and websites. He's also the author of  "Digital Marketing Success Plan", a new book aiming to help businesses worldwide make digital marketing predictable with a documented strategy and objective, actionable plan. In this episode of Agency Journey, Corey shares insights on niching down an agency's services, creating comprehensive digital marketing plans, and adapting to AI in search marketing.This is a great conversation for agency leaders interested in specialization, strategic planning, and staying ahead of industry changes.Episode Insights:

"It was clear that there was so much power in individuals banding together to do something."Cooper Munroe is the CEO of The Motherhood, an influencer marketing agency founded in 2006, long before the term "influencer marketing" existed. Cooper shares the fascinating origin story of her agency, which emerged from a viral blog post during Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.In this episode of Agency Journey, Cooper discusses the evolution of influencer marketing over the past 15+ years, from early "mommy blogs" to today's multi-billion dollar industry. She provides insights on best practices, untapped opportunities in regulated industries, and the importance of authenticity in influencer partnerships.This conversation is valuable for agency leaders interested in the history and future of influencer marketing, as well as those looking to partner with specialized agencies to deliver these services.Episode Insights:

"Managing a CEO's LinkedIn account is a full-time job."Garret Caudle is the founder and CEO of Influent, a full-funnel LinkedIn marketing agency. With a background in scaling agencies and a passion for LinkedIn's untapped potential, Garret shares his expertise on leveraging the platform for thought leadership and business growth.In this insightful episode of Agency Journey, Garret breaks down the strategy behind effective LinkedIn content creation for agency founders and executives. He emphasizes the importance of developing a clear point of view and consistently sharing valuable insights with your target audience.Whether you're looking to establish yourself as an industry thought leader or generate more leads for your agency, this episode will give you plenty of inspiration and actionable advice to make LinkedIn a key pipeline driver for your business.Episode Insights:

Is it ever possible to track 40 hours of work in a given week?If not, what should the benchmark be?What is time tracking for, anyway?And how to talk about it with your team members in a way that makes them motivated, and gives you good insights?In this episode of Agency Journey, Gray and Kuba discuss the challenges and best practices of time tracking in agencies. They explore how to communicate its purpose, implement effective processes, and use the data to drive business decisions.Episode Insights:

In this episode of Agency Journey, Gray and Kuba discuss the pros and cons of daily standup meetings and explore alternative approaches for remote teams. They break down why many companies still rely on standups and offer strategies to instead build trust, maintain momentum, and improve planning asynchronously.Episode Insights:

"From the very start, when I launched Galactic Fed, some of my friends (former entrepreneurs) gave me really good advice, which is that you want to be removing yourself from as many processes as you can. You do not want to create what some people call a key man or key woman scenario."Zach Boyette is the co-founder and Managing Partner at Galactic Fed, a full-service growth marketing agency with a team of 150 people across 25 countries. Zach has an unconventional background, having worked at Google and P&G before becoming a digital nomad and building Galactic Fed.In this episode of Agency Journey, Zach shares insights on scaling an agency while maintaining a strong remote culture. He emphasizes the importance of documentation, promoting from within, and choosing your team over rude clients.Zach also discusses his perspective on the future of remote work and why he believes younger generations will drive a shift toward more location-independent companies. This is a great conversation for agency leaders interested in building a large remote team while maintaining work-life balance.Episode Insights:

“​​In all aspects of your work and your business, you have systems. Why is networking, which is just as important as any one of those singular things, not managed with such ferocity?”Kurt Schmidt is an agency founder, podcast host, author, and agency coach with 25 years of experience growing agencies from just a few people to over 500 employees and tens of millions in revenue. He started his career as a designer and developer before catching the entrepreneurial bug and becoming a "pirate" as he puts it.In this value-packed episode of Agency Journey, Kurt shares his hard-earned wisdom on business development, networking, and delivering client results. He emphasizes the importance of taking a problems-first approach rather than just showcasing capabilities.Kurt is also the author of “The Little Book of Networking”, and in this conversation he explains the system he uses to consistently provide value to his network and build community.Whether you're looking to jumpstart your agency's growth or build a thriving professional network, this episode is a must-listen.Episode Insights:

John Corcoran is the co-founder of Rise25, an agency that helps B2B companies get clients, referrals, and strategic partnerships through done-for-you podcasts and content marketing. John has been podcasting since 2010 and his business partner Jeremy has been doing it since 2008. Together they've built a team of over 50 people to support B2B companies in leveraging this powerful medium.John has a fascinating and diverse background prior to Rise25. At various points in his career, he was paid by President Bill Clinton as a White House writer, worked for Steven Spielberg at DreamWorks, and did some work for Warren Buffett. He was also a lawyer for a period before discovering the power of podcasting to have high-caliber business conversations and decided to make that his focus.In this episode of Agency Journey, John shares his knowledge on using podcasts strategically to deliver value to your ideal clients and referral partners. He emphasizes that download numbers and vanity metrics matter far less than having the right conversations with the right people.We also dig into John's involvement with Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) and get an inside look at different high-level business peer groups.This is a great episode for agency leaders interested in the power of podcasts and surrounding yourself with other successful entrepreneurs.Episode Insights:

In this episode, Kuba generates a list of client success tips using AI—and Gray critiques them and goes way deeper based on his hard-won experience in the agency space.Episode Insights:

“All of my successes massively outpace my capabilities. Like when you meet me, you're like, ‘I can't believe that guy did all the shit that he did'. Because I look homeless and I'm not really as bright as I pretend to be. I'm not self-deprecating—it's a fact. My success outpaces my capability because I found other people that were more capable than me."Kasim Aslam is the CEO of Solutions 8, co-founder of Driven Mastermind, and co-host of the Perpetual Traffic podcast. He has built four multi-million dollar agencies and had two exits, one of which was an eight-figure deal. Kasim's success in the agency world, particularly in the Google Ads space, and his ability to scale businesses with minimal initial capital make him an impressive figure in the industry.He's also one of the most energetic and insightful guests this podcast has seen thus far.This episode of Agency Journey will be a perfect listen for agency owners and entrepreneurs looking to remove themselves from the business, identify and keep their most valuable team members, and build the mindset that will take your operation to the next level.Kasim shared a whirlwind of inspiration, including but not limited to: the crucial differences between employees (farmers) and entrepreneurs (hunters); the power of offering equity to top performers; the importance of hiring people who can outperform you in their roles; and the benefits of seeking out hard challenges for personal and professional growth.Episode Insights:

“Candidate expectations have certainly accelerated. There's a difference today versus 10 years ago in terms of what people's expectations are and how fast other processes are going. And so moving quickly is an advantage in a hiring process—and figuring out how to move quickly without sacrificing on the process is a little bit of an art.”In this episode, our very own Gray McKenzie discusses the process of hiring the right people for an agency. He shares his recent experience of hiring an Integrator and COO for ZenPilot, and all the small and big decisions that shaped the recruitment process. Gray explains the hiring framework we followed, the stages of the hiring process, the approach towards sourcing and screening candidates, and much more.A great listen for anyone looking to expand their team—it will help you craft a fast process that surfaces the best talent and captures it before it goes off the market.Episode Insights:

"I think the hardest thing that all HubSpot agencies are trying to solve for is… 500 product updates this year. How do you keep it all straight? How do you share that knowledge? How much knowledge do you have to know as a team, to what level? One thing that I practice and preach is: not everybody's going to know everything, but that collectively as a team and as an agency, we've got people in certain areas that are experts in those areas that we can rely on."Adam Sharrow is the founder of Process Pro Consulting, a HubSpot Diamond Partner agency specializing in technical implementation, optimization, and support for businesses using HubSpot.Drawing from his experience in building and scaling a successful HubSpot agency, Adam shares about navigating the challenges of growth, managing a team of experts, and staying ahead of the curve even as HubSpot releases 500+ product updates each year.This episode of Agency Journey will be perfect for agency owners looking to specialize in a specific niche, such as HubSpot consulting, and build a sustainable, scalable business model.You'll learn about the importance of conducting thorough client assessments, balancing quick wins with long-term strategic planning, and fostering a culture of knowledge sharing and expertise within your growing team.Episode Insights:

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“In today's day and age people are scared to be measured. But your athletes, they love it because that's how they grew up. How do you know who are the best players on the team? You look at the box score, you look at the stat sheet. So I like bringing a sports mentality to everything I do.”Casey Cavell is a serial entrepreneur. He's built a $40,000,000 portfolio from a $9,000 investment by founding, buying, or investing in dozens of small businesses over the last two decades.He also has personal experience with the kind of burnout that results from the business growing and relying too heavily on one person.Which is why he now focuses on helping companies simplify, focus, and get the business owner out of the day-to-day.This episode of Agency Journey will be perfect if you're an entrepreneur thinking about investing in and increasing the value of other businesses; bringing in A-players; and mindfully delegating tasks until you're left working on what you do best and love most.Episode Insights:

“I had bought into this idea that you had to sacrifice everything you had to kill yourself for growth. And it cost me dearly. I made some really poor decisions.”Carlos Hidalgo is co-founder & CEO of Digital Exhaust, a Utah-based data-driven, AI-enabled agency with a belief that "growth is a state of being, not just a goal to be achieved".But he's also a man with a dramatic story of putting his business ahead of his other life priorities—and learning some very hard lessons from that.This episode of Agency Journey will be a perfect reality check for agency owners, and an opportunity to re-assess the importance you should put on your agency relative to the current stage of your life journey.It will be especially relevant if you're balancing being a business owner with being a spouse, a parent, and a person driven by faith.Episode Insights:

“I have long seen myself as: I'm a very good marketer. I'm a very good communicator. I'm a good content creator. That's my lane. I know how to drive in that lane very, very well. And this has been a challenge for me to say: how do I become the best president, owner of a services business? Versus the best marketer anybody knows.”Ali Schwanke is founder and CEO of Simple Strat—a Diamond HubSpot Solutions Partner and premium B2B content marketing agency.You may know them from the HubSpot Hacks YouTube channel, the #1 unofficial source of HubSpot tutorials with over 20k subscribers to the channel.This episode will be a perfect listen for agency operators looking to find their perfect niche; discover content topics and formats that work on YouTube; and become a better leader by leveraging their unique leadership style.It's also full of inspiration for owners considering making an exit from their agency.Episode Insights:

“If you don't like managing people, one of the things to consider is: do you want to run an agency? The management portion will never go away. But it also doesn't have to be so hard.”Karl Sakas, agency advisor and founder of Sakas & Company, has served as “agency therapist” for over 600 clients in 36 countries. He was also our recent guest on Agency Journey. His fourth time on the show!You can guess why we had Karl on so many times—his insights are always on point.If you want to work less and earn more, and be a better leader for your agency through cultivating personal relationships and intentional leadership training, this episode will be well worth a listen.Episode Insights:

“We all consider ourselves humble experts. So we all know that we're good at what we do, but ego does not get in the way around our workplace.”Arianne Foulks, CEO and founder of Aeolidia, a one-stop shop agency for creative ecommerce brands with 20+ years of market presence, was our recent guest on Agency Journey.If you want to build an efficient, adaptable agency that builds strong relationships with clients and employees—this episode will be perfect for you.Episode Insights:

[This is a special feature of Gray's recent appearance on Perpetual Traffic—reposted on the Agency Journey feed so you don't miss this informative discussion!]Kasim chats with Gray MacKenzie, the co-founder of ZenPilot, a company that helps agencies master project management. Gray reveals why project management is more than just software, and how to create effective processes and habits. He also shares how to set up your scorecard, track your client health, and deliver an awesome experience for your team and clients. Plus, he gives you the three secrets to project management success and how to avoid the most common mistakes.Chapters:00:00:00 - Introduction and Welcome00:01:59 - How to Calculate the ROI of Project Management00:07:20 - How Zenpilot Evolved Over 10 Years00:19:08 - How to Measure and Improve Client Health00:24:42 - The Three Keys to Making Project Management Work Well00:26:19 - How to Use ClickUp and Teamwork for Project Management00:28:16 - How to Define Your Scorecard and Track Your Progress00:30:25 - How AI Can Enhance Project Management00:33:18 - How to Design Your Data Architecture for AI00:37:17 - How AI Can Automate Task Creation and Summary00:39:30 - How Gamification Can Motivate and Engage Your Team00:40:38 - How AI Can Optimize Capacity Management00:46:15 - How to Create Structure and Clarity for Your Team00:48:25 - How to Use Time Tracking for Capacity ManagementLINKS AND RESOURCES:ZenPilotGray MacKenzie on LinkedInClickUpEOS® V/TO™ Template - V/TO™ TemplateEOS - Entrepreneurial Operating SystemTraffic & Conversion SummitTier 11 JobsPerpetual Traffic on YouTubeTiereleven.comSolutions 8 Perpetual Traffic SurveyPerpetual Traffic WebsiteFollow Perpetual Traffic on TwitterConnect with Kasim on Twitter and Connect with Ralph on LinkedIn

"Small groups of highly skilled, highly motivated, well communicating people can just achieve more than you can at a large organization."Jesse Resnick, co-founder of Ei Digital, a full-service digital agency, was our recent guest on Agency Journey.This episode is a must-listen for agency owners and managers looking to build a high-performing team culture.Episode Insights:

Is your agency prepared for the cookieless future that threatens to “tank” advertising performance?Paris Childress, CEO of SaaS-focused performance marketing agency Hop Online, was our recent guest on Agency Journey.He shared insights on crafting first-party data strategies that can help agencies avoid disrupted campaigns when third party cookies expire.Paris also discussed expanding service offerings with data science capabilities; making use of new privacy-focused technologies like his AI platform pLTV; specific and actionable personal branding tips; and optimizing operations with tools like ClickUp.Tune in if you want to ensure your agency has a plan to preserve ROI as the digital advertising landscape evolves.Episode Insights:

Want to take your agency to the next level? Learn how Matthew leveraged EOS, strategic partnerships, and custom ecommerce solutions to optimize operations and expand offerings over 9 years in business. His proven strategies can help your agency demonstrate ROI and pave the path to sustainable growth.Matthew McIver shares his journey evolving Commence Studio from a service-based creative agency into a productized business selling themes on Shopify.Learn how EOS and Traction shaped their growth, why they partner with larger firms, and how custom ecommerce sites demonstrate clearer ROI for clients.Matthew also explains how virtual tools like Float enable better financial visibility and why you should standardize systems instead of reinventing the wheel.Tune in for a transparent peek behind the scenes at an agency optimizing their operations and expanding their offerings over 9 years in business.Episode Insights:

Running a professional services agency? You need compelling case studies to close sales. But most video case studies end up dry, boring, and forgettable.So how do you create video case studies that captivate prospects and accelerate deals?In this episode of Agency Journey, host Gray MacKenzie interviews Ian Garlic, founder of Video Case Story. Ian shares his proven process for producing video case studies that get results. He also talks about writing a book, starting a partnership program, and much more.Episode Insights:

Running a marketing agency is hard. Running one remotely across several time zones? Even harder.So how do you keep a distributed team aligned, motivated, and growing together?In this episode of Agency Journey, host Gray MacKenzie interviews Janet Mesh, CEO and co-founder of Aimtal, a fully remote marketing agency. We dig into the keys that accelerated Aimtal's growth over the past 5 years.Janet shares how Aimtal has doubled its team and revenue each year through an intentional focus on talent, culture, and streamlined operations.Episode Insights: Implementing clear processes and documentation enabled Aimtal to effectively manage a distributed team across 7 time zones Hosting immersive annual retreats reconnects their remote team and aligns everyone on vision and goals How Aimtal structures retreats to maximize bonding and alignment Focusing on talent, values, and culture fit over geography gives Aimtal access to the best talent globally The importance of intention in building a thriving remote agency and team Relying on tools like Rippling to streamline operations and free up bandwidth as they scale Leading with transparency and vulnerability as keys to remote team success Resources Mentioned: Rippling - For HR/IT management Guru - Knowledge base software TravelPerk - Travel management platform Anthropic - AI assistant tool Whether you're building a remote agency or colocated team, Janet offers fantastic insights into leading with intention, investing in processes and culture, and scaling successfully.

In this episode, Kuba shares his vision for ZenPilot Marketing. He details his strategy to transition ZenPilot's perception from merely a ClickUp implementation partner to a team of agency operations experts. Kuba emphasizes the importance of promoting the ZenPilot team and using platforms like YouTube and LinkedIn to highlight their expertise and unique personalities, fostering a more connected audience.Kuba also offers valuable insights into "low-hanging marketing fruit" for agencies. He discusses the importance of investing in team development and leveraging their individual personalities to build a loyal audience. He highlights the value of using AI tools like ChatGPT for content repurposing, and encourages agencies to focus on creating high-quality content around crucial keywords.In this episode, you'll learn: Vision for ZenPilot Marketing Low-Hanging Marketing Fruit for Agencies The importance focus on creating one or a few pieces of high-quality content around important keywords. Why you need to invest in developing your team's personalities and give them a platform to share their expertise. How your mindset as a leader trickles down to your team and agency. Kuba's Best Tip for Agency Operators: Work on Your Mindset Presenting Sponsor: ZenPilotIf you're an agency owner or leader looking to level up your operations and maximize your team's potential, then we have the perfect solution for you.ZenPilot knows that you are tired of wasting time on trial and error — that's why we provide tried-and-true solutions that will help you grow and scale quickly and sustainably.So, what are you waiting for?Go to zenpilot.com to learn more.Resources mentioned in this episode: Jakub Grajcar LinkedIn ZenPilot's Website Gray MacKenzie's LinkedIn

Do you struggle to create work that truly resonates with your audience? The ability to craft stories and messages that forge meaningful connections is what separates good creators from great ones. In today's episode, host Gray MacKenzie sits down with storytelling expert Jay Acunzo.Jay Acunzo, The founder of the Creator Kitchen, a membership program helping you push yourself creatively. He's also an author, speaker, and host of the award-winning podcast Unthinkable, where creative people take us inside the unconventional choices they made to break from best practices.In this episode, you'll learn: How to resonate with your audience by crafting memorable stories Learn about posture and practice and what it means as an creative. The four ways to communicate with your audience. What stories should be focused on. How to practice crafting stories and work on developing your own narrative style. What does the Creator Kitchen community look like Jay's recommended people to follow The Unthinkable Podcast Process Presenting Sponsor: ZenPilotIf you're an agency owner or leader looking to level up your operations and maximize your team's potential, then we have the perfect solution for you.ZenPilot knows that you are tired of wasting time on trial and error — that's why we provide tried-and-true solutions that will help you grow and scale quickly and sustainably.So, what are you waiting for?Go to zenpilot.com to learn more.Resources mentioned in this episode: Unthinkable Podcast Creator Kitchen's Website Jay Acunzo's Website Jay Acunzo's LinkedIn Total ANNARCHY Newsletter Playing Favorites Newsletter Gray MacKenzie's LinkedIn

In this episode, Erika Zeigyte, CEO of a consulting & recruitment agency called Prosana. joins Gray Mackenzie to discuss the intricacies of hiring an A+ talent for your agency.Erika also shares her insights into what makes for great agency candidates, how to build an effective hiring process, the benefits of using a recruiting agency, interview techniques, and recommended tools for recruiting.In this episode, you'll learn: What makes someone a good fit for an agency? How to vet candidates for agency roles How to balance candidate experience with thoroughly vetting candidates The common positions recruited in an agency Hiring challenges with junior candidates The elements of a first-class hiring process Prosana's hiring process How to source and qualify candidates effectively Ways to do an effective outreach to candidate prospects Recruitment agency tech stack When to consider using an outside recruiting agency (pros and cons) Effective interview questions to ask a talent during interview Presenting Sponsor: ZenPilotIf you're an agency owner or leader looking to level up your operations and maximize your team's potential, then we have the perfect solution for you.ZenPilot knows that you are tired of wasting time on trial and error — that's why we provide tried-and-true solutions that will help you grow and scale quickly and sustainably.So, what are you waiting for?Go to zenpilot.com to learn more.Resources mentioned in this episode: Erika Zeigyte's Linkedin Prosana's Website ClickUp Asana Jeb Blount Gray MacKenzie's Linkedin

Misti Ferris holds the “Integrator” seat at digital marketing agency Roger West Creative & Code, which means she ensures that everyone is dancing to the same beat called EOS (even the creatives). In addition to the Integrator role, Misti serves as Vice President of Operations, where her “3 M” mantra: marketer, minimalist and mom (of 4 daughters) is the driving force behind all things requiring structure, process and a firm yet loving nudge.In this episode, you'll learn: How EOS provides structure and discipline that still allows for creativity in agencies and marketing firms. Why providing transparency into the company's vision and goals builds trust and helps employees understand the purpose behind operational changes. How bi-directional feedback between managers and employees improves communication and relationships but takes time to implement fully. What tools are available for managing EOS, so companies should evaluate options based on their needs and preferences. Best practices on continuously documenting processes and procedures prepares agencies for growth opportunities like new clients, ventures, and services. Presenting Sponsor: ZenPilotIf you're an agency owner or leader looking to level up your operations and maximize your team's potential, then we have the perfect solution for you.ZenPilot knows that you are tired of wasting time on trial and error — that's why we provide tried-and-true solutions that will help you grow and scale quickly and sustainably.So, what are you waiting for?Go to zenpilot.com to learn more.Resources mentioned in this episode: Misti Ferris Linkedin Gray MacKenzie Linkedin Roger West Website EOS Website EOS Tools

William Ferreira is the founder of Social Buff, a full-service digital agency that builds and scales direct-to-consumer (DTC) e-commerce brands. Since its launch in 2019, the business has taken countless companies to multi-million pounds in revenue.In this episode, William and Gray discussed the tools and strategies Social Buff uses to operate efficiently while providing high-impact results, including a focus on metrics, process, and hiring the right talent.In this episode, you'll learn: Overview of Social Buff and their growth over the past few years The key marketing channels Social Buff focuses on The sales process and how Social Buff finds and onboards new clients Tips for effective cold email outreach and positioning your agency How Social Buff competes against larger agencies and freelancers Identifying the point where e-commerce brands make the transition to hiring an agency like Social Buff The tools that power Social Buff's operations The most important tips William would offer to other agency owners How Social Buff tracks metrics and KPIs to evaluate the health and performance of their business Presenting Sponsor: ZenPilotIf you're an agency owner or leader looking to level up your operations and maximize your team's potential, then we have the perfect solution for you.ZenPilot knows that you are tired of wasting time on trial and error — that's why we provide tried-and-true solutions that will help you grow and scale quickly and sustainably.So, what are you waiting for?Go to zenpilot.com to learn more.Resources mentioned in this episode: SocialBuff's Website William Ferreira's LinkedIn Gray MacKenzie's LinkedIn ClickUp's Website

In this power-packed episode, we are joined by JJ Rusell, Partner and Director at Best Damn Agency Mastermind. Together with Gray, they delve into the importance of having a clear vision for mastermind groups, the value of strong connections within the community, and overcoming self-limiting beliefs. They also discuss strategies for building a successful agency and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset in children. Tune in for an insightful conversation that's sure to leave you inspired and motivated to take your agency and personal growth to the next level.In this episode, you'll learn: The importance of having a clear vision and purpose for mastermind groups How to build a strong community with meaningful connections Strategies to overcome self-limiting beliefs in agency owners and leaders Key elements for building a successful agency, including niching and operational efficiency The benefits of a mixed staffing model with contractors and full-time employees Ways to instill an entrepreneurial mindset in children from an early age The significance of scheduling consistent one-on-one time with children for their development and nurturing relationships Presenting Sponsor: ZenPilotIf you're an agency owner or leader looking to level up your operations and maximize your team's potential, then we have the perfect solution for you.ZenPilot knows that you are tired of wasting time on trial and error — that's why we provide tried-and-true solutions that will help you grow and scale quickly and sustainably.So, what are you waiting for?Go to zenpilot.com to learn more.Resources mentioned in this episode: JJ Russell's LinkedIn Best Damn Agency Mastermind Website Best Damn Agency Podcast Website Apex Revenue's Website Gray MacKenzie's LinkedIn

In this episode, Karl Sakas, Author, Speaker, Agency Consultant and Founder of Sakas & Company, joins Gray MacKenzie to discuss strategies & key metrics that agency owners should start tracking, and how it contributes to achieve sustainable growth and increased profits. Karl Sakas helps people at agencies make smarter decisions for smoother growth. Drawing on his background in agency operations, Karl has personally advised hundreds of agencies on every inhabited continent. He is the author of Made to Lead, The In-Demand Marketing Agency, and more than 400 articles on agency management. When he's not helping clients, Karl volunteers as a bartender on an antique train.In this episode, you'll learn: How to focus on aligning incentives between your agency and clients to build a true partnership.  Why transparency and communication are key to maintaining client relationships.  Why frameworks like the Entrepreneurial Operating System to your agency's unique culture and goals and what not to do. How content creation helps establish your agency as a thought leader. How to empower your team through the right tools and processes to help them work efficiently and collaboratively. Why Referrals and word-of-mouth are important to your agency's success. How to consistently reassess how you can build a more profitable and client-centric agency through your hiring, growth plan, and using the right tools. The important key metrics to track your agency's growth. Presenting Sponsor: ZenPilotCheck out ZenPilot, where we help agencies optimize their operations using our proven systems and processes.ZenPilot knows that you are tired of wasting time on trial and error — that's why we provide tried-and-true solutions that will help you grow and scale quickly and sustainably.So, what are you waiting for?Go to zenpilot.com to learn more.Resources mentioned in this episode: Karl Sakas LinkedIn Agency Articles - Sakas & Company Blog Work Less, Earn More Book Made to Lead Book The In-Demand Marketing Agency Book Sakas & Company Website Gray MacKenzie LinkedIn EOS

In this episode, Andrew Stern, Partner, and COO at Pilothouse, a full-service digital marketing agency that helps DTC brands scale through performance marketing. Andrew shares insights into Pilothouse's unique partnership model with clients, how they've scaled to over 170 employees in just a few years, and the key sales and marketing strategies that have fueled their growth.In this episode, you'll learn: How to Focus on true alignment of incentives between the agency, clients, and internal team. How Pilothouse Brings clients into the process as true partners with transparent and ongoing communication.  Why implementing frameworks like EOS to improve processes but adapt them to suit your unique culture and goals. How to build authority and generate new opportunities through content like newsletters, podcasts, and thought leadership.  How to empower your teams, streamline work with the right tools, and continually look for new tools that can help improve productivity and collaboration. Key lessons and insights for building a high-growth agency. Why referrals and word-of-mouth were key for early growth.  Presenting Sponsor: ZenPilotCheck out ZenPilot, where we help agencies optimize their operations using our proven systems and processes.ZenPilot knows that you are tired of wasting time on trial and error — that's why we provide tried-and-true solutions that will help you grow and scale quickly and sustainably.So, what are you waiting for?Go to zenpilot.com to learn more.Resources mentioned in this episode: Andrew Stern's LinkedIn Pilothouse Website DTC Podcast DTC Newsletter Gray MacKenzie's LinkedIn

Individuals with soulful character approach leadership with tremendous fervor. They possess a deep understanding of their organization's structure and prioritize bottom-up motivation over top-down. They recognize the importance of all team members. These leaders also value open communication with all employees, recognizing that each person plays a crucial role in the organization and is equally valuable.In this episode, Kenny Lange, CEO of Kenny Lange Coaching, Kenny helps agency owners and their leadership teams find clarity and engineer their culture using proven frameworks. Kenny joins Gray MacKenzie to discuss the impact of being a purpose-driven, people-centric leader and how System & Soul differs from The EOS framework.In this episode, you'll learn: Why it is important to have the right framework for your agency What is S2 in The System & Soul Framework The differences and similarities between System & Soul and The EOS framework What System & Soul's S2 focuses on The importance of having consistent 1-on-1's with your employees How purpose-driven leadership impacts your agency's growth in productivity and effectivity Presenting Sponsor: ZenPilotCheck out ZenPilot, where we help agencies optimize their operations using our proven systems and processes.ZenPilot knows that you are tired of wasting time on trial and error — that's why we provide tried-and-true solutions that will help you grow and scale quickly and sustainably.So, what are you waiting for?Go to zenpilot.com to learn more.Resources mentioned in this episode: Kenny Lange Coaching Website System & Soul Website S2 Diagnostic - How Healthy Is Your Organization? EOS Website Kenny Lange's LinkedIn Gray MacKenzie's LinkedIn

In this episode, Charles "Charlie" Gaudet II, CEO of Predictable Profits. He is also the author of “The Predictable Profits Playbook" and host of The Beyond 7-Figures Podcast, joins Gray MacKenzie to explore the strategies and best practices for building successful and profitable agency partnerships.In this episode, you'll learn: Why it is important to understand the benefits of agency partnerships How to identify the right partners for your agency How to establish clear expectations and goals The best methods to maintain open communication and fostering trust Ways to measure the success of your agency partnerships and continuously improving the process. Presenting Sponsor: ZenPilotCheck out ZenPilot, where we help agencies optimize their operations using our proven systems and processes.ZenPilot knows that you are tired of wasting time on trial and error — that's why we provide tried-and-true solutions that will help you grow and scale quickly and sustainably.So, what are you waiting for?Go to zenpilot.com to learn more.Resources mentioned in this episode: Predictable Profits Website The Predictable Profits Playbook Beyond 7-figures Podcast Charles Gaudet's LinkedIn Gray MacKenzie's LinkedIn

Kevin Barber is the Head of Growth at Lean Labs, focused on helping innovative companies make their marketing profitable so they can scale. Father of 3, lives in Tampa, FL, and loves bikes, boats, and building brands.Chris DuBois is the CEO at Lean Labs, helping build growth teams and websites for brands that deserve to win. Father of 2, and husband of 1. Lives in Portland, Maine, and enjoys exploring the outdoors, and reading a good book.In this episode, Chris DuBois, CEO at Lean Labs, and Kevin Barber, Head of Growth at Lean Labs, joins Gray to discuss the challenges and opportunities and the nitty gritty of transitioning from one role to another and the importance of having the right role for each team member. Topics discussed in the episode: How agencies are adjusting to the shifts brought about by the pandemic. The criticality of having the appropriate chief executive officer for Lean Labs. Chris's journey to becoming the CEO of Lean Labs. The effect of the transition to Kevin's leadership. The responsibilities that were delegated during the transition. Kevin's perspective on the distinctions between being an agency owner/business owner and a CEO. Chris's personal path before joining the Lean Labs team. Who Lean Labs is intended for. The purpose and function of Sprocket Rocket. Lean Labs' future partnerships with Impact. Lean Labs' priorities for the year 2023. The most vital skills that Chris was able to swiftly acquire. The growth priorities for 2023. Strategies for keeping the team aligned in the face of change and innovation. Presenting Sponsor: ZenPilotCheck out ZenPilot, where we help agencies optimize their operations using our proven systems and processes.ZenPilot knows that you are tired of wasting time on trial and error — that's why we provide tried-and-true solutions that will help you grow and scale quickly and sustainably.So, what are you waiting for?Go to zenpilot.com to learn more.Resources mentioned in this episode: Sprocket Rocket Website Lean Labs Website The Growth Playbook Growth Grader Kevin Barber's LinkedIn Chris DuBois LinkedIn Gray MacKenzie's LinkedIn EOS Tools

John Heritage is the President at Evenbound, A Diamond-level HubSpot Solutions Partner, in 2012. Evenbound specializes in growth marketing and technical consulting. John discusses the benefits of professional EOS implementation and the importance of aligning your organization's goals and processes. Topics discussed in the episode: Evenbound's journey Evenbound's team and expectations How covid changed the way agencies work John's story on discovering EOS Their journey to self-implementation and some realizations along the way The pros of hiring a professional implementer The challenges with implementing EOS The benefits of having EOS implemented at Evenbound The process of finding your EOS implementor John's process for determining who to choose as their implementor at their agency Evenbound's plans for the future John's advice to leaders wanting to implement EOS. Presenting Sponsor: ZenPilotCheck out ZenPilot, where we help agencies optimize their operations using our proven systems and processes.ZenPilot knows that you are tired of wasting time on trial and error — that's why we provide tried-and-true solutions that will help you grow and scale quickly and sustainably.So, what are you waiting for?Go to zenpilot.com to learn more.Resources mentioned in this episode: John Heritage's LinkedIn Evenbound's Website Gray MacKenzie's LinkedIn The Entrepreneurial Operating System Website EOS Tools

In this episode of Agency Journey, Paul joins Gray to discuss what EOS is and how it significantly contributed to Fuelius' growth.Paul Earnden is the Managing Director at Fuelius, an agency that works with scaling companies to provide end-to-end customer journey solutions. Fuelius offers a full suite of services, including CRM enablement, inbound marketing, and web development, designed to help scaling companies grow. Topics discussed in the episode: How Fuelius started and why it is a sub-brand of Prodo. Fuelius' journey as a sub-brand and the challenges they faced as an agency. Paul's role at Fuelius as a Managing Director and Integrator. The difference between a visionary and an integrator and the importance of each role. The story of how Paul was first introduced to the EOS at the HubSpot Inbound Conference. A brief explanation of what is EOS? Their experience with the EOS survey and the start of their journey implementing EOS for their agency. Fuelius' implementation timeline, mistakes from implementing EOS, and the importance of involving the right people in the process. What is an accountability chart, and how does it differ from an organizational setting? How does the ROCKS setting look like for Fuelius, and what are ROCKS? How Fuelius creates a scorecard and sets KPIs The project management tool that Fuelius uses when they pivoted away from spreadsheets. Fuelius' Tech Stack - what tools are they using that are unknown? Launching Fuel Your Funnel Podcast and what's it about Plans for Fuel Your Funnel Podcast Presenting Sponsor: ZenPilotCheck out ZenPilot, where we help agencies optimize their operations using our proven systems and processes.ZenPilot knows that you are tired of wasting time on trial and error — that's why we provide tried-and-true solutions that will help you grow and scale quickly and sustainably.So, what are you waiting for?Go to zenpilot.com to learn more.Resources mentioned in this episode: John Aikin's LinkedIn Web Canopy Studio's Website Paul Earnden's LinkedIn Fuelius' Website Prodo's Website Riverside's Website Harvest Website Subtrack Website Ninety.io Atlassian Jira Fuel Your Funnel Podcast Free 47-page Guide to Implementing ClickUp:This guide is packed with step-by-step instructions (and checklists) to help you implement ClickUp for your agency.We've put together a 47-page guide to walk you through the 5-step ClickUp implementation process that we've taken thousands of agencies through.

On this episode of Agency Journey, Shama Hyder, CEO of Zen Media, joins Gray to discuss what dark social is, the impact of dark social on your agency's buyer journey, and why it is important to pay attention to it.Topics discussed in the episode: The story behind Zen Media's and ZenPilot's name Zen Media's journey What is dark social? How dark social works and  How dark social impacts your buyers' journey What the b2b buying journey looks like Presenting Sponsor: ZenPilotBe sure to check out ZenPilot, where we help agencies optimize their operations using our proven systems and processes.ZenPilot knows that you are tired of wasting time on trial-and-error — that's why we provide tried-and-true solutions that will help you grow and scale quickly and sustainably.So, what are you waiting for?Go to zenpilot.com to learn more.Resources mentioned in this episode: Zen Media Website Shama Hyder Website Shama Hyder's LinkedIn The Zen of Social Media Marketing Free 47-page Guide to Implementing ClickUp:This guide is packed with step-by-step instructions (and checklists) to help you implement ClickUp for your agency.We've put together a 47-page guide to walk you through the 5-step ClickUp implementation process that we've taken thousands of agencies through.

After every project, we collect feedback, brainstorm ideas, and discuss how we can improve our services. Back at the beginning of 2021, we transformed our client journey and added in a discovery project called "The Blueprint".Why did we do this?The Blueprint is the discovery project that allows us to fully understand the agency's pains, frustrations, challenges, and goals for the project. We've received a lot of amazing feedback, and many agencies have even reverse-engineered our process and implemented it at their agency. On this episode of Agency Journey, Gray joins Andrew Dymski, CoFounder at ZenPilot, to discuss our Blueprint process and what agencies have learned from it and implemented it in their organization.Topics discussed in the episode: ZenPilots Client Journey - Blueprint, Implementation, Optimize The ZenPilot's promise - "Move from chaos to clarity" 3 core systems every agency needs - technical, procedural and behavioral The purpose of the Blueprint and why agencies need to implement a discovery project Using Savvy Call to enable clients to book calls on their own Creating Checkout pages for easy payment and onboarding Standardize intake information with forms Creating a welcome page with instructions Standardizing a kickoff deck  Centralizing communication and leaving breadcrumbs to show value Training client to transform market utility Benchmarking clients with surveys Implementing discovery projects Presenting Sponsor: ZenPilotBe sure to check out ZenPilot, where we help agencies optimize their operations using our proven systems and processes.ZenPilot knows that you are tired of wasting time on trial-and-error — that's why we provide tried-and-true solutions that will help you grow and scale quickly and sustainably.So, what are you waiting for?Go to zenpilot.com to learn more.Resources mentioned in this episode: Gray Mackenzie - LinkedIn Andrew Dymski - LinkedIn ZenPilot - BluePrint Process ClickUp Savvy Call Miro Lucid Chart Slack Make Free 47-page Guide to Implementing ClickUp:This guide is packed with step-by-step instructions (and checklists) to help you implement ClickUp for your agency.We've put together a 47-page guide to walk you through the 5-step ClickUp implementation process that we've taken thousands of agencies through.